Service fee canceled, but prices are rising: cafes and restaurants face hefty fines

Starting from January 1, 2026, new rules came into effect in Kyrgyzstan that prohibit catering establishments, including cafes and restaurants, from charging a service fee.

The Antimonopoly Regulation Service reported that after the introduction of this norm, some establishment owners began to formally cancel the service fee but added it to the price of dishes. Such actions are considered a violation of the law.
Monitoring compliance with the new regulation has been entrusted to the Antimonopoly Regulation Service and the State Tax Service. Entrepreneurs who do not adhere to the rules may face significant fines.

Fines for underweight goods, reduced portion sizes, or deceiving customers amount to 16,500 soms for individuals and 51,000 soms for legal entities. If goods are sold at a price exceeding the stated amount, the fine for individuals will be 30,000 soms, while for legal entities it will be 15,000 soms. Similar fines also apply for the absence of price tags in the national currency.

Regulatory authorities have urged citizens to report any violations of their rights.